Fire extinguishing apparatus



Feb. 20, 1934. E. TYDEN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1930 l l lwmww lww wmnfi I I1. 1- {III J @Venfok Feb. 20, 1934. E TYDEN 1,947,890

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1934. TYDEN 1,947,890

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jumc-rloN- FRANGIBLE JUNCTION F'USIBLE Patented Feb. 20, 1934 7 tree: STATES r 1,947,890 7 'FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Emil Tyden, Hastings, Mich. Application June 30, 1930, Serial No. 464,940

3 Claims. (01.169-16) The purpose of this invention is to provide in a fire extinguishing sprinkler system a means of venting the air pressure by which the main valve which controls access of water to the system is held seated, independently of the opening of the discharge heads, so that the pipe system shall be occupied by water approximately to the discharge heads when the latter are opened by the heat due to fire in the apartment; and so that instead of the discharge from the heads immediately following their opening being a blast of air fanning the fire, the discharge shall be water,

and this without the delay which occurs when the opening of the sprinkler heads by heat is relied upon for venting the pressure and causing the water controlling valve to open.

The invention comprises also a new and improved temperature-responsive device for operating the vent valve by whose opening air pressure in the pipe system is vented, as mentioned; also new and improved constructions of said vent valve. r

The invention in the several parts consists of the elements and features of construction shown, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a fire extinguishing system comprising a water supply main, a main valve controlling access of water from the supply pipe to the system, pipe line from the main valve to the apartment to be protected, and pipe systemin the apartment having the water discharge heads, equipped with the pressure-venting means embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of part of a pipe system in a protected apartment in which the venting means is included.

Figure 3 is a detail elevation at the plane indicated by the line 3-3 on Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, 3.

Figure 4 is a section at the line 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section at the line 5-5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section at the line 6-6 on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view of the character of a section at the line 7-7 on Figure 2 showing a modification.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to part of Figure 1 showing a detail modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

A represents a main valve of a dry pipe system mounted on the water supply pipe, B, and discharging through the main air pressure pipe, C, to a sprinkler pipe system indicated by the pipes, D, in the apartment tobe protectedsaid discharge and main air pressure pipe lines being concontrol valve indicated at 15.

nected for air pressure by an air pressure line, 15, leading from a source of compressed air indicated by the tank, M and furnished with a E represents a vent pipe leading oif from the main air pressure and discharge pipe, C, preferably, as seen in Figure 3, in the protected apartment proximately antecedent to the branching from said main discharge pipe of the pipes, D, constituting the sprinkler head system. a

The pipe, leads to a fitting, F, at which it is connected at the inlet port, 20, of a passage, 21, which turns for discharge at a port, 22, in a chamber formed by a hood, 24','preferably as indicated, made of transparent material, as glass, to facilitate inspection without disassembling or open ing which would vent the air pressure. The port, 22; is controlled by a valve, 25, held firmly seated against the pressure by a displaceable strut, 26, preferably frangible as hereinafter more particularly described. The bottom of the chamber which is enclosed by the hood, 24, has a plurality of outlet ports, 27, distributed around the port, 22, on three sides thereof, as seen in Figure 5, said ports leading to a discharge port, 29, at which there is connected a pipe, 30, which may lead to any convenient point for delivery of the air which will be discharged through said pipe, upon the valve, 25,-hereinafter referred to as the vent valve,-being openedfor venting the air pressure of the system. 7

The opening of the vent valve is of course to be controlled by some form of temperature responsive device which shall operate for opening the valve when the temperature conditions in the apartment are such as result from fire danger. The'valve being held shut by the strut, 26, will'be opened by the air pressure when the strut is broken; and for breaking the strut, which, as shown may be understood to be made of glass or similar frangible material, there is provided a thrust pin, 31, mounted in a slightly flexible diaphragm, 32, which closes a lateral opening in the hood, 24. Said thrust pin is directed laterally against the strut at about the middle point of the length of the latter, and being arranged for protruding from the hood is positioned to be encountered by a'weight, 35, carried by a lever, 36, which is mounted and controlled as to its movement for swinging the weight into encounter with the thrust pin as will now be described.

A housing, H, substantially tubular but open at the lower side for the greater part of itslength, as indicated at h, mounted in any convenient manner, on the wall or ceiling of the apartment,

as by hangers or brackets, h h carries a pair of metal rods, I and J, the rod I being of relatively large diameter, and the rod, J, being relatively slender. Both rods are made fast at one end in the head plate, h of the housing which has mounted in it at the other end a bracket member, K, formed with a web, k, which constitutes the head plate of the housing at that end. The bracket, K, may constitute the support for the fitting, F, and may be, as shown, integral with the latter; and it is extended for affording pivotal support, as seen at 37, for the weighted lever, 36, which extends upwardly from said pivot with the weight, 35, overhanging from the pivot; and said weighted lever is held normally at that position against gravity by a latch member, 40, pivoted at one end to the web, k, of the bracket, K, and having at the other end a catch nose, 41, which engages a catch, 42, carried by the lever, 36, all as seen in Figure 2.

At suitable place or places in the length of the rods, I and J, the housing, H, is furnished with suitable guide bearing for both rods, as indicated by one such guide bearing, 45, to prevent the rods or either of them from sagging by their own weight, as they might be liable to do when heated.

The operation of this structure in its response to temperature change is that upon slow change of temperature, the two rods, I and J, acquire the changed temperature substantially at the same rate; and being of the same metal, they are lengthened or shortened equally by any given change of temperature which occurs slowly. But in case of change of temperature due to fire in the apartment, and consequently taking place rapidly, the slender rod becomes heated through so as to expand longitudinally before the larger rod is equally heated through more than a small fraction of its diameter, or before it is heated to a sufiicient fraction of the diameter to cause it to show any appreciable elongation.

The latch member, 40, has near its pivot, a depending lug, 46, which carries a screw, 47, for encountering the end of the rod, J, which protrudes through the web, is, of the bracket, K, said screw affording attachment for one end of a spring, 48, attached at its other end to a fixed stud, 49, and operating to hold the lug, against the end of the rod, J; and with this construction it may be readily understood that when the rod,

J, by its elongation in advance of any substantial elongation of the rod, J, is thrust through the web, k, which is held by the heavier rod, I, unmoved in the housing, the engagement of the rod, 1, by means of the screw, 4'7, with the lug, 46, of the latch, causes the latch nose to be disengaged from the catch, 42, releasing the weighted lever, 36, causing the weight, 35, by its boss, 35*, to encounter the thrust pin, 31, driving the latter inward against the strut, 26, breaking the latter and releasing the valve, which is thereupon opened by the air pressure, thus venting the pressure and causing the water controlling valve to be opened, admiting the water to the sprinkler pipe system where it is ready to be discharged from the sprinkler heads instantly upon there being opened by the heat which has already caused the opening of the vent valve, as described.

The thermostatic apparatus for controlling the delivery of water to all the sprinkler heads of an apartment system may be employed in the case of an open head system; and in Figure 1 there is shown a fire extinguishing installation having open heads, as well as closed heads. In the arrangement as illustrated, there is provided a supplemental water supply pipe, 50, connected for deriving water from the main supply pipe 51, antecedent to the main valve, A, and leading to an open head system indicated by an apartment pipe system, 52, in which the open heads are indicated at 53, 53, 53. The flow of water through the supplemental pipe line, 50, is controlled by a valve device seen at 54, in which the valve member, 55, is arranged to be opened by the water pressure, and held normally closed by air pressure from the compressed air source acting on a diaphragm, 56, constituting a movable wall member of a chamber, 56, said chamber being connected by a pipe, 58, the air pressure line at any convenient point in the latter which may be, as shown, at the delivery line, C, leading to the closed head pipe system, D. And it will be seen that whenever by any means or from any cause the pressure in the air pressure line is relieved, the water pressure will open the valve, 55, and water will reach and be discharged at the open heads, 53.

The relief of pressure in the compressed air line may occur from the automatic operation of the closed head system by fusing their fusible links in the familiar manner of the operation of such devices; or it may occur by the operation of the temperature-responsive device shown in Figure 1 and above described. In either case, when the conditions are such as to cause the closed heads to be opened, the water is admitted also to the open heads.

When the installation includes open heads, the vent pipe, 30, is desirably constructed for discharge at one or more of the open heads; and in Figure 1 this vent pipe is shown with a plurality of branches, 30 30 and 35, for discharge at several of the open heads of the system. The purpose and advantage of arranging thus for the discharge of the air pressure in the vent pipe at the open heads rather than exteriorly of the apartment, is that the vented air will arrive at the open heads about simultaneously with the Water, and the vented air pressure thus discharged instead of fanning the fire will serve to spray the water discharged at the open head and thus distribute it more widely than it might otherwise be distributed over the fire.

If preferred for any reason, the supplemental water discharge line leading to open heads may be connected with the main discharge line, C, of the main valve, A, beyond said main valve; and such arrangement is seen in Figure 8. The operation with respect to the valve controlling the supplemental water discharge being held seated by the air pressure from the compressed air line and opened by the water pressure when the air pressure is relieved, is the same as in the first described form, the only difference in the operation being that the pressure in the direction for opening, being air pressure, air precedes the Water in the discharge from the open heads.

But since the air pressure acts against only the area of the valve, 55, while the air pressure from the compressed air line acts against the many times greater area of the diaphragm, 56, the operation of this form is not materially different from that of the form first described having the supplemental water supply line led ofi from the main supply pipe antecedent to the main valve, A, except as noted above.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement described, viz, having the vent pipe leading oil from the main discharge pipe line which leads from thedry pipe valve to the sprinkler system when that pipe is both the water discharge line and the air pressure line. On the contrary, the invention may be applied to any systemin which the main water control valve is normally held seated by air pressure, the vent valve, having means as described, for causing it to be opened upon predetermined temperature conditions in the protected apartment, being connected by suitable pipe line with whatever passages are provided in the system for venting the air pressure. That is to say, the invention is applicable to any dry pipe valve system having the main water control valve arranged to be released by venting an air pressure by which it is normally held seated.

It may be understood that the means of releasing the vent valve consisting in employing a frangible strut and breaking it to eifect the release of the valve, is not essential to the present invention, though for certain reasons a frangible strut may be preferred. Aconstruction which is familiar in sprinkler heads has the valve arranged to be opened, releasing a toggle consisting of two link elements pivoted on each other,

and together forming a strut between the valve and the head of a yoke above the valve seat, so long as they are held with their pivot to each other just out of alignment with the pivot points of the opposite ends on the valve and the yoke, respectively, the releasable means for so holding them consisting of a fusible link connecting parallel lever arms extending from the respective toggle members.

The like of this fusible link construction may be added to the structure constituting the temperature-responsive device shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, for causing the operation of the vent valve when for any reason said temperatureresponsive device fails to operate .promptly. This additional feature is seen in Figure 6, in which such fusible link is shown at 60 connecting the bracket hook, 61, which projects from the housing, H, with the hooked end, 62, fulcrumed at 64 on the housing, H, having its arm, 65, extending under the latch, 40, a spring, 66, being provided reacting on the lever, 63, to stress its arm, 65, against the latch, 40, for disengaging the latter from the hook, 42, and releasing the weight, 35, when the fusion of the link, 60, releases the hooked arm of the lever.

In Figure '7 there is illustrated a modification of the structure shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5 in which, with the above mentioned familiar construction of fusible link sprinkler heads, there is embodied frangible means for holding the valve seated, subject to the valves being released for opening by breaking the frangible part, which breaking is effected by the same means as the breaking of the frangible strut in the construction shown in Figure 4, that is, means 'controlled by a temperature-responsive element.

The operation of this modification, which will be hereinafter described in detail, is that if for any reason the temperature-responsive element fails to cause the release of the weighted lever, or if the latter fails to operate when released for breaking the frangible element, the valve will not fail to be released when the temperature rises to a degree for fusing the link which holds the toggle strut in valve-locking position.

Referring to. Figure 7, the vent valve, 100, is held normally seated by a toggle link strut device which comprises toggle links, 101 and 102, pivotally stepped upon each other at their proximate ends, the link, 101, being stepped at its opposite end on the valve, 100, and the link, 102, at its opposite end-being stepped against a stop screw, 104', set through the end of the yoke member, 193, formed integrally with the valve seat, spanning and overhanging the same.

The toggle strut, 101, has a short lever arm, 105, projecting from one side, and the toggle strut member, 102, has a similar lever arm, 106, projecting at the same side, and the two lever arms, 105 and 166, are connected by a two-part link, whose two parts, 107 and 108, are soldered together and adapted to become separated by the fusing of the solder. The link member, 107, is connected to the lever arm, 106, of the upper toggle strut member by the engagement of an aperture, 109, of the link with the reduced terminal of the lever arm, 106. The link member, 108, is engaged at its lower end with the lever arm, 105, of the toggle link, 10 1, by an aperture in the lower end of said link member engaging a frangible pin, 110, which is held in a socket formed in the end of the lever arm, 165, said frangible pin projecting a substantial distance outwardly from the link in position to receive the thrust of a thrust pin, 81, when. the latter is encountered by the weight, 35, upon the operation of a thermostatic device, as above described.

in both forms of the vent valve construction shown respectively in Figures 2, 4 and 5, and in Figure '7, an important characteristic consists in 105 the formation of the valve seat having the vent port to controlled and the valve with the strut means for holding it firmly seated and arranged to be displaced for permitting the valve to open, as a unit adapted to have the valve seated and 110 stressed to its seat'by the strut means and frangible or otherwise displaceable parts. The purpose of this construction of the valve unit is to necessitate and. permit the adjustment of the parts with the valve seated and firmly held to its seat 115 by the strut means independently of the remainder of the structure, viz, the fitting in which the valve seat is mounted and the hood by which the unit is enclosed, and the means by which the strut is broken or otherwise displaced; so that in every 12:) instance, including the initial installation, and after every instance of operation by the occurrence of fire, requiring the resetting of the main valve of the system and the thermostatic vent structure described, the operater shall see that the valve is seated so as to effect a perfect seal, unimpaired by the compression of he valve seated when thatseat is of yielding material or by the distortion or marring of the valve or seat, or by distortion or elongation of the yoke with which the strut cooperates forholding the valve to its seat.

Upon consideration of this construction it may be understood that the vent valve will be opened for venting the air pressure region of the system 185 by the breaking of the frangible pin, 110, which will release the fusible link without fusion, and thereby release the toggle strut members which will fall out and release the vent valve. But if for any reason the temperature-responsive structure mounted, as described, in the upper part of the apartment, fails to operate for releasing the weight, 35, promptly upon the occurrence of the temperature conditions which should cause it to thus operate, as for example, if the rise of temperature though due to fire, is very slow, although it eventually reaches the danger point, nevertheless when the temperature in the vicinity of the vent valve is sufficient to fuse the fusible link, the vent valve will be opened as promptly as the closed 150 sprinkler heads in the apartment will be opened by the same cause and in the same manner, namely, by the fusing of the links by which they are held closed; and the advantage of venting the air pressure by way of the vent valve and its discharge connection leading to the exterior or to an open sprinkler head, and avoiding to a large extent,if not so perfectly as would have been avoided by the earlier release of the vent valve upon the proper operation of the temperatureresponsive apparatus,the discharge of the air through the sprinkler heads in the apartment, objectionably fanning the fire when the sprinkler heads are opened by the fusing of their links.

I claim:

1. In a fire extinguishing system of the type having a valve chamber for a main water controlling valve connected for deriving water supply under pressure, and a discharge pipeline from said chamber constituting an air pressure region, said system comprising a pipe system in the apartment to be protected communicating with said discharge pipe line and having water discharge heads normally closed and constructed for opening in response to rise of temperature to a predetermined degree, the main water controlling valve being arranged to be opened by the water supply pressure and held normally seated by the pressure in the air pressure region including the main valve chamber, a vent pipe line communicating with the air pressure region and leading to the apartment to be protected; a vent valve in said vent pipe line; a temperature-respensive device located in the apartment and adapted to respond to conditions constituting fire danger in advance of the response of the closed heads, and operating connections from the temperature-responsive device for opening the vent valve upon predetermined temperature aflecting said temperature-responsive device, said fire extinguishing system comprising a discharge pipe line in the protected area equipped with normally opened discharge heads, and connected for deriving water supply from the main supply source antecedent to the main water controlling valve; a control valve in said open head discharge line connected and arranged to be held closed by the air pressure in the air pressure region and to be opened by the water supply pressure on relief of the air pressure due to operation of the vent valve, the vent pipe being arranged leading from the vent valve for discharging the air at one or more of said open discharge heads.

2. In a fire extinguishing system of the type having a valve chamber for a main water controlling valve connected for deriving water supply under pressure and a discharge pipe line from said chamber constitutirr an air pressure region, said system comprising a pipe system in the apartment to be protected communicating with said discharge pipe line and having water discharge heads normally closed and constructed for opening in response to rise of temperature to a predetermined degree, the main water controlling valve arranged to be opened by the water supply pressure and held normally seated by the pressure in the air pressure region including the main valve chamber; a vent pipe line communicating with the air pressure region and leading 99 th a a ment to be re eens a en val e in aid V t Pi line; a em e atu e-re d vice located in the apartment adapted to respond to conditions constituting f re danger in advance of the response of the closed heads, and operating connections from the temperatureresponsive device for opening the vent valve upon predetermined temperature affecting said temperature-responsive device; a supplemental water pipe line connected for deriving water independently of control by the main water controlling valve; a second apartment pipe system having open discharge heads connected with said supplemental water line and a valve controlling access of water to said second system arranged to be opened by the water pressure; a source of compressed air and pressure flow connections therefrom to the air pressure region, and connections from said compressed air source leading and connected for holding said last mentioned valve normally seated against the water pressure in said supplemental water pipe line; whereby upon the relief of the pressure from the compressed air source due to the opening of the vent valve by the temperature-responsive device water is discharged through all the open heads of said second apartment system.

3. In a fire extinguishing system of the type having a valve chamber for a main water controlling valve connected for deriving water supply under pressure and a discharge pipe line from said chamber constituting an air pressure region, said system comprising a pipe'system in the apartment to be protected communicating with said discharge pipe line and having water discharge heads normally closed constructed for opening in response to rise of temperature to a predetermined degree, the main water controlling valve being arranged to be opened by the water supply pressure and held normally seated by the pressure in the air pressure region including the main valve chamber; a vent pipe line communicating with the air pressure region and leading to the apartment to be protected; a vent valve in said vent pipe line; a temperatureperature-responsive device for opening the vent valve upon predetermined temperature affecting said temperature-responsive device; a supplemental water pipe line connected for deriving water supply under pressure antecedent to the main water controlling valve; a second apartment pipe system having open discharge heads connected with said supplemental water line, and a valve controlling access of Water to said second system arranged to be opened by the water pressure; connection from the vent line for holding said last mentioned valve normally seated against the water pressure in said supplemental water pipe line; whereby upon the relief of the pressure from the compressed air source due to the opening of the vent valve by the temperatureresponsive device, water is discharged through all the open heads of said second apartment system.

EMIL TYDEN. 

